Automatic changer system capable of rewriting a control program for controlling the system

ABSTRACT

This automatic changer system easily performs the operation of rewriting a program and acquiring the data of the system. The system includes program rewriting means (12) responsive to the application of a program rewrite command for selecting a storage medium (10) storing a new control program, reading in the new control program, erasing the previously stored control program stored in storage means (11) and storing the new control program in the storage means (11).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an automatic changer system or a largecapacity storage system adapted for example to effect the selection,recording and reproduction of a plurality of storage media and moreparticularly to the modification or improvement of a program for acontrol of the system.

BACKGROUND ART

With automatic changer systems heretofore known in the art, when aprogram for a control (e.g., a positioning control for the disc transfermechanism) of the system was modified or improved, it was necessary tochange the memory storing the stored program of the system.

In addition, the automatic changer system was frequently large in weightand also it was nearly impossible for those having no technicalknowledge to perform the operation of removing the outer casing of thesystem and changing the memory safely. As a result, it was the practiceso that a technical expert went to the installation place of the systemto change the memory storing the stored program of the system andthereby to modify or improve the program for effecting a control of thesystem.

Further, there was the necessity to acquire the data of such information(e.g., the hours of operation the number of times of operation, theerror contents, the number of errors occurred, etc.,) of the system forthe purpose of preventive maintenance, fault analysis, etc. In thiscase, it was effected by the expert by performing the necessaryoperations by use of an exclusive software, jigs, etc.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic changersystem so designed that when a control program for controlling thesystem is modified or improved, even an ordinary user can easily performwithout any expert technical knowledge the operation of rewriting theprogram and acquiring the data of the system.

To accomplish the above object, an automatic changer system according toone aspect of the present invention includes an insertion/discharge unitfor inserting and discharging a storage medium storing a program anddata, a medium storage unit for storing a plurality of storage media, amedia transfer unit for selecting one of a plurality of storage mediafrom the insertion/discharge unit or the medium storage unit, a controlunit including storage means storing a control program for controllingthe selection of the storage media, and program rewriting meansresponsive to a program rewrite command to read in a new control programfrom the storage medium and replace the control program stored in thestorage means with the new control program.

In accordance with the present invention, when a program rewrite commandis applied, a new control program is read in from the storage medium bythe program rewriting means and the Control program stored in thestorage means is replaced with the new control program.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that in response to a programrewrite command the program rewriting means reads in a new controlprogram from the storage medium and the control program stored in thestorage means is replaced with the new control program, the rewriting ofthe control program can be easily effected without requiring any expertknowledge.

An automatic changer system according to another aspect of the presentinvention consists in the abovementioned system further includinginformation recording means whereby when an intra-system storedinformation recording command is applied, the information stored in thestorage means is written into the storage medium.

In accordance with the present invention, When an intra-system storedinformation recording command is applied, the information stored in thestorage means is written into the storage medium by the informationrecording means.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that in response to the applicationof an intra-system stored information recording command the informationstored in the storage means is written into the storage medium by theinformation recording means, the acquisition of the system data storedin the storage means can be easily effected without requiring any expertknowledge.

An automatic changer system according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes, in addition to the previously mentionedmedium insertion/discharge unit, medium storage unit, medium transferunit and control unit, program rewriting means whereby in response tothe application of a program rewrite command, the storage medium storinga new control program is selected to read in the new control program andthus the control program stored in storage means is erased to store thenew control program in the storage means.

In accordance with the present invention, when a program rewrite commandis applied, the program rewriting means selects the storage mediumstoring a new control program, reads in the new control program, erasethe control program stored in the storage means and stores the newcontrol program in the storage means.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that in response to the applicationof a program rewrite command the program rewriting means selects thestorage medium storing a new control program, reads in the new controlprogram, erases the control program stored in the storage means andstores the new control program in the storage means, the rewriting ofthe control program can be effected easily without requiring any expertknowledge.

An automatic changer system according to still another aspect of thepresent invention consists in the above-mentioned system includinginformation recording means whereby in response to the application of anintrasystem stored information recording command the storage medium forstoring the information stored in the storage means is selected and theinformation is written into the storage medium.

In accordance with the present invention, when an intra-system storedinformation recording command is applied, the information recordingmeans selects the storage medium for storing the information stored inthe storage means and writes the information into the storage medium.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that in response to the applicationof an intra-system stored information recording command the informationrecording means selects the storage medium for storing the informationstored in the storage means and writes the information into the storagemedium, the acquisition of the system data stored in the storage meanscan be easily performed without requiring any expert knowledge.

An automatic changer system according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes, in addition to the above-mentioned mediuminsertion/discharge unit, medium storage unit, medium transfer unit andcontrol unit, a recording/reproducing unit for reading and writinginformation from and into the storage medium, and program rewritingmeans whereby in response to a program rewrite command the storagemedium storing a new control program is selected by the medium transferunit to read in the new control program from the recording/reproducingunit and the control program stored in the storage means is erased tostore the new control program in the storage means.

In accordance with the present invention, the program rewriting meansresponds to the application of a program rewrite command so that thestorage medium storing a new control program is selected by the mediumtransfer unit to read the new control program from therecording/reproducing unit and the control program stored in the storagemeans is erased to store the new control program in the storage means.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that the program rewriting meansresponds to the application of a program rewrite command so that thestorage medium storing a new control program is selected by the mediumtransfer unit to read in the new control program from therecording/reproducing unit and the control program stored in the storagemeans is erased to store the new control program in the storage means,the rewriting of the control program can be performed easily withoutrequiring any expert knowledge.

An automatic changer system according to still another aspect of thepresent invention consists in the above-mentioned system includinginformation recording means whereby in response to the application of anintrasystem stored information recording command the storage medium forstoring the information stored in the storage means is selected by themedium transfer unit and the information is read into the storage mediumfrom the recording/reproducing unit.

In accordance with the present invention, the information recordingmeans is responsive to the application of an intra-system storedinformation recording command so that the storage medium for storing theinformation stored in the storage means is selected by the mediumtransfer unit and the information is read into the storage medium fromthe recording/reproducing unit.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that the information recording meansis responsive to the application of an intra-system stored informationrecording command so that the storage medium for storing the informationstored in the storage means is selected by the medium transfer unit andthe information is read into the storage medium from therecording/reproducing unit, the acquisition of the system data stored inthe storage means can be effected easily without requiring any expertknowledge.

An automatic changer system according to still another aspect of thepresent invention consists in the above-mentioned system in which aprogram rewrite command is applied after a password has been inputtednormally and after a validation operation has been normally effected twotimes.

In accordance with the present invention, a program rewrite command isapplied after the password has been inputted normally and the validationoperation has been normally performed two times.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that a program rewrite command isapplied after the password has been inputted normally and after thevalidation operation has been normally effected twice, there is theeffect of eliminating the danger of the control program being rewrittendue to any malfunction and the accurate rewriting of the control programcan be effected.

An automatic changer system according to still another aspect of thepresent invention consists in the above-mentioned system in which aprogram rewrite command is applied from an external host computer.

In accordance with the present invention, a program rewrite command isapplied from the host computer.

In accordance with the present invention of the above-mentionedconstruction, by virtue of the fact that a program rewrite command isapplied from the external host computer, it is possible tosimultaneously apply a program rewrite command to a plurality ofautomatic changer systems so as to simultaneously rewrite the controlprograms of the plurality of automatic changer systems by the externalhost computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the program rewriting operation of anautomatic changer system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of theembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of the control unitof FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation during the programrewriting and intra-system stored information recording of theembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the program rewriting operation of theembodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagraph showing the various states of thememory during the program rewriting of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the intra-system stored informationrecording operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the intra-system stored informationrecording operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block of a large-capacity storage system employing anautomatic changer system.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the block diagram of FIG. 1, numeral 1 designates an automaticchanger system, and 10 a storage medium for storing a control programand operational condition data. Numeral 11 designates storage means forstoring the control program for controlling the system and data of theoperating conditions. Numeral 12 designates program rewriting means forreading in the change control program written in the storage medium 10,erasing the control program stored in the storage means and storing thechange control program in the storage means 11, and the control programof the automatic changer system is written anew by the program rewritingmeans 12.

Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 2, numeral 20 designates acontrol panel for operating the system, and 21 a mediuminsertion/discharge unit for inputting and outputting the storage medium10. Numeral 22 designates a medium storage unit for storing the storagemedium 10, and 23 a recording/reproducing unit for reading and writing aprogram and data in the storage medium 10.

Also, numeral 24 designates a medium transfer unit for transferring thestorage medium 10 between the medium insertion/discharge unit 21, themedium storage unit 22 and the recording/reproducing unit 23,respectively, and 25 a control unit for controlling the system.

On the other hand, numeral 26 designates a communication path foreffecting the communication between the recording/reproducing unit 23and the control unit 25 and the outside, and the storage medium 10 isstored in the medium storage unit 22 from the medium insertion/dischargeunit 21 or the medium storage unit 22 storing a plurality of storagemedia 10 is inserted thus storing the storage media in the system.

Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 3, numeral 30 designates amicrocomputer (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) for performing theprocesses of the control unit 25. Numeral 31 designates a SRAM used as awork area or the like of the control unit 25, and 32 a pseudo SRAM forstoring a program for rewriting. Numeral 33 designates a mechanicalcontroller for controlling the medium insertion/discharge unit 21 andthe medium transfer unit 24, and 34 an input-output device connected tothe control panel 20. Numeral 35 designates an EEPROM storing thecontrol program, etc., of the control unit 25, and the storage means 11is formed by the SRAM 31, the pseudo SRAM 32 and the EEPROM 35.

Numeral 36 designates a 12-V supply circuit for supplying 12 V for thepurpose of erasing the contents of the EEPROM 35 or for the writing ofdata. Numeral 37 designates a communication unit for effecting thecommunication with the recording/reproducing unit 23, etc., through thecommunication path 26, and the CPU 30, the SRAM 31, the pseudo SRAM 32,the mechanical controller 33, the input-output device 34, the EEPROM 35,the 12-V supply circuit 36 and the communication unit 37 are connectedwith one another through an internal communication path 38.

Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 7, numeral 60 designatesinformation recording means whereby the intra-system stored informationstored in the storage means 11 is stored in the storage medium 10.

Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 9, numeral 80 designates amagnetic disc unit, 81 a host computer, and 82 a keyboard for operatingthe host computer 81. Numeral 83 designates a LAN for connecting thehost computer 81 to other host computers and terminal computers, and theautomatic changer system 1, the magnetic disc unit 81 and the hostcomputer 81 are interconnected by an SCSI interface 84.

Then, the magnetic disc unit 80 is adapted for use as a cache. Morespecifically, of the programs and the data in the plurality of storagemedia 10-within the automatic changer system 1 those used frequently arestored in the magnetic disc unit 80.

As a result, where the programs and data stored in the magnetic discunit 80 are to be read out, they are read from the magnetic disc unit 80thus forming a high-speed response large-capacity memory system for thehost computer 81.

Next, the operation of starting the rewriting of a control program andthe recording of intra-system stored information will be described withreference to FIG. 4.

Firstly, a password input menu is displayed (S40) so that a password isinputted by the display (S41). Then, it is determined whether thepassword inputted at the S41 is coincident with a given value (S42).

If there is no coincidence at the S42, then a return is made to the S41.On the contrary, if there is the coincidence at the S42, a controlprogram rewriting and intra-system stored information recordingexecution menu is displayed (S43).

Then, the control program rewriting or the intrasystem storedinformation recording is selected and an execution button is depressed(S44); thereafter, a cancel button is depressed as a validationoperation. 1(S45). Then, whether the execution button and the cancelbutton have been depressed correctly at the S44 and S45, respectively,is determined (S46).

Then, if the buttons have not been depressed correctly at the S46, areturn is made to the S44. On the contrary, if the buttons have beendepressed correctly at the S48, the execution button is depressed as avalidation operation 2 (S47). Then, whether the execution button hasbeen depressed correctly at the S47 is determined (S48).

Thus, if the button has not been depressed correctly, a return is madeto the S44. On the contrary, if the button has been depressed correctlyat the S48, the storage medium 10 storing a new control program or thestorage medium 10 for recording the intra-system stored information isselected from the medium insertion/discharge unit 21 or the mediumstorage unit 22 by the medium transfer unit 24.

Then, the selected storage medium 10 is transferred to therecording/reproducing unit 23. Thus, the operation of rewriting theselected control program or recording the intra-system storedinformation is started (S49).

As described hereinabove, the processing is not transferred to theexecution menu for the control program rewriting or the intra-systemstored information recording until the password has been inputtedcorrectly. Also, after the transfer has been made to the execution menu,the validation operations are performed so as to prevent the executionof the program rewriting due to any erroneous operation of the operator.

Next, the control program rewriting operation will be explained withreference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Firstly, the storage medium 10 storing for example a new control programfor renewal is transferred from the medium insertion/discharge unit 21or the medium storage unit 22 into the recording/reproducing unit 23 bythe medium transfer unit 24.

Then, the new control program or the like stored in the storage medium10 is read out through the recording/reproducing unit 23. Then, it isstored in the pseudo SRAM 32 through the communication path 26 (S50,FIG. 6(b)). Then, the program renewing program in the EEPROM 35 iscopied into the SRAM 31 (S51, FIG. 6(c)). Then, the processing isadvanced to the control by the program transferred to the SRAM 31 (S52,FIG. 6(d)).

Thereafter, 12V is supplied to the EEPROM 35 (S53) and the program inthe EEPROM 35 is erased (S54, FIG. 6(a)).

Then, the program in the pseudo SRAM 32 is stored in the EEPROM 35 (S55,FIG. 6(f)) and the supply of 12V to the EEPROM 35 is interrupted (S56).

Thereafter, the program in the pseudo SRAM 32 is compared with theprogram in the EEPROM 35 (S57) so as to determine whether the programsare in coincidence with each other (S58). Thus, if there is nocoincidence at the S58, a return is made to the S53, whereas if there isthe coincidence, a transfer is made to the control by the program in theEEPROM 35 (S59).

Next, the intra-system stored information recording operation will beexplained with reference to FIG. 8.

Firstly, the storage medium 10 for storing the stored information istransferred into the recording/reproducing unit 23 from the mediuminsertion/discharge unit 21 or the medium storage unit 22 by the mediumtransfer unit 24.

Then, the data stored in the system, e.g., the hours of operation, thenumber of times of operation, the contents of errors, the number oferrors occurred, etc., are written into the storage medium 10 throughthe recording/reproducing unit 23(S70).

It is to be noted that this embodiment shows the case in which theoperation of rewriting the control program or recording the intra-systemstored information is started by operating the control panel of thesystem. However, it is possible to start the operation of rewriting thecontrol program or recording the intra-system stored information throughthe operation of the host computer 81 shown in FIG. 9. In this case, itis possible to preliminarily insert storage media 10 storing replacingprograms in a plurality of systems so that the rewriting of the controlprograms an the recording of the intra-system stored information can beeffected through the interface and the LAN by the operations in the hostcomputer 81.

Also, this embodiment shows the case in which a new control program isstored in the pseudo SRAM during the rewriting of the control program.However, it is possible to design so that the storage of the programduring the rewriting and the execution of the renewing program can beperformed by only the SRAM 31 used as a work area or the like. Further,this embodiment is not limited to it and the ordinary storage means maybe used.

Further, this embodiment shows the case in which the renewing programfor performing only the renewing of the program is provided separatelyfrom the control program. However, the control program may be adapted toserve this function.

Still further, this embodiment shows the case in which the new controlprogram for renewal purposes is first stored in the RAM and then therenewing of the program is effected. However, it is possible to designso that the renewing program or the control program having a programrenewing function is transferred from the EEPROM 35 and the contents ofthe EEPROM 35 are erased. And then control program or the like stored inthe storage medium 10 is directly stored in the EEPROM 35.

As mentioned hereinabove, in accordance with this embodiment the programstored in the EEPROM 35 is replaced by the program stored in the storagemedium 10 through the given operations. Also, the data stored in thesystem are stored in the storage medium through the given operations.Thus, even the ordinary user can effect the rewriting of the program forprogram renewing purposes and the acquisition of the stored data withoutrequiring any expert knowledge.

We claim:
 1. An automatic changer system capable of rewriting a controlprogram for controlling the system comprising:a mediuminsertion/discharge unit for inserting and discharging a storage mediumstoring a program and data; a medium storing unit for storing at leastone storage medium storing a program and data; a medium selecting unitfor selecting a specific storage medium from a plurality of storagemedia comprising the storage medium inserted in said mediuminsertion/discharge unit and at least one storage medium stored in saidmedium storing unit; a control unit for controlling a selection of astorage medium in said medium selecting unit according to a controlprogram for controlling said automatic changer system, said control unitincluding storage means comprising first storage means for storing saidcontrol program and second storage means; and program rewriting meansresponsive to an application of a program rewrite command, forpermitting said medium selecting unit to select a storage medium with anew control program from said plurality of storage media, under controlof said control unit, and for reading said new control program from theselected storage medium to replace said control program stored in saidfirst storage means with said new control program.
 2. An automaticchanger system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said program rewritingmeans includes means for copying said control program stored in saidfirst storage means to said second storage means which functions on atemporary memory so that said control unit temporarily executes saidcontrol program temporarily stored in said second storage means, andmeans for replacing said control program stored in said first storagemeans with said new control program so that said control unit executessaid new control program.
 3. An automatic changer system as set forth inclaim 1 further comprising information recording means responsive to anapplication of an intra-system stored information recording command, forwriting information stored in said second storage means into a selectedone of said plurality of storage media.
 4. An automatic changer systemas set forth in claim 3 wherein:said program rewrite command is appliedafter an input of a normal password.
 5. An automatic changer system asset forth in claim 4 wherein:said program rewrite command is appliedfurther after a validation operation has been normally performed twotimes.
 6. An automatic changer system as set forth in claim 5wherein:said program rewrite command is applied from an external hostcomputer.
 7. An automatic changer system capable of rewriting a controlprogram for controlling the system comprising:a mediuminsertion/discharge unit for inserting and discharging a storage mediumstoring a program and data; a medium storing unit for storing at leastone storage medium storing a program and data; a medium selecting unitfor selecting a specific storage medium from a plurality of storagemedia comprising the storage medium inserted in said mediuminsertion/discharge unit and at least one storage medium stored in saidmedium storing unit; a control unit for controlling a selection of astorage medium in said medium selecting unit according to a controlprogram for controlling said automatic changer system, said control unitincluding storage means comprising first storage means for storing saidcontrol program and second storage means; and program rewriting meansresponsive to an application of a program rewrite command, forpermitting said medium selecting unit to select a storage medium with anew control program from said plurality of storage media under controlof said control unit, for reading said new control program from theselected storage medium, for erasing said control program stored in saidfirst storage means, and for storing said new control program into saidfirst storage means.
 8. An automatic changer system as set forth inclaim 7, wherein:said program rewriting means includes means for copyingsaid control program stored in said first storage means to said secondstorage means which functions on a temporary memory so that said controlunit temporarily executes said control program temporarily stored insaid second storage means, for erasing said control program storm insaid first storage, and for storing said new control program into saidfirst storage means so that said control unit executes said new controlprogram.
 9. An automatic changer system as set forth in claim 7, furthercomprising information recording means responsive to an application ofan intrasystem stored information recording command, for wiltinginformation stored in said second storage means into a selected one ofsaid plurality of storage media.
 10. An automatic changer system as setforth in claim 9 wherein:said program rewrite command is applied afterinput of a normal password.
 11. An automatic changer system as set forthin claim 10 wherein:said program rewrite command is applied furtherafter a validation operation has been normally performed two times. 12.An automatic changer system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:saidprogram rewrite command is applied from an external host computer. 13.An automatic changer system capable of rewriting a control program forcontrolling the system comprising:a medium insertion/discharge unit forinserting and discharging a storage medium, storing a program and dam; amedium storing unit for storing at least one storage medium storing aprogram and data; a medium selecting unit for selecting a specificstorage medium from a plurality of storage media comprising the storagemedium inserted in said medium insertion/discharge unit and at least onestorage medium stored in said medium storing unit, and for transferringthe selected storage medium; a control unit for controlling a selectionof a storage medium in said medium selecting unit according to a controlprogram for controlling said automatic changer system, said control unitincluding storage means comprising first storage means for storing saidcontrol program and second storage means; a recording/reproducing unitfor selectively reading and writing information from and into theselected storage medium; and program rewriting means responsive to anapplication of a program rewrite command, for permitting said mediumselecting unit to select a storage medium with a new control programfrom said plurality of storage medium under control of said controlunit, and to transfer the selected storage medium to saidrecording/reproducing unit, for reading said new control program fromthe selected storage medium transferred, for erasing the control programstored in said first storage means, and for storing said new controlprogram into said first storage means.
 14. An automatic changer systemas set forth in claim 13, wherein:said program rewriting means furtherincludes means for copying said control program in said first storagemeans to said second storage means which functions on a temporary memoryso that said control unit temporarily executes said control programtemporarily stored in said second storage means, for erasing saidcontrol program stored in said first storage means, and for storing saidnew control program in said first storage means so that said controlunit executes said new control program.
 15. An automatic changer systemas set forth in claim 13, further comprising information recording meansresponsive to an application of an intra-system stored informationrecording command, for writing information stored in said second storagemeans into a selected one of said plurality of storage media.
 16. Anautomatic changer system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:said programrewrite command is applied after input of a normal password.
 17. Anautomatic changer system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:said programrewrite command is applied after a validation operation has beenperformed two times.
 18. An automatic changer system as set forth inclaim 17, wherein:said program rewrite command is applied from anexternal host computer.